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Functional approach based on morphology as a model of phytoplankton variability in a subtropical floodplain lake: a long-term study

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Abstract

Long-term phytoplankton dynamics in a floodplain lake, between periods of limnophase and potamophase was studied using the morphology-based functional classification (MBFG). The work was carried out to test the hypothesis that the temporal distribution of MBFGs is influenced by the hydrosedimentological regime of the Paraná River, and that these differences can be registered by analyzing the dominant MBFGs in the two periods. Samples were taken in an isolated floodplain lake on the Upper Paraná River floodplain, Brazil, from 2000 to 2012, and water level, water temperature, conductivity, pH, dissolved-oxygen, euphotic zone, maximum depth, and nutrients were used to explain the distribution of MBFGs. 478 taxa were identified and distributed in seven MBFGs (I–VII). MBFG V (flagellates algae) and VI (diatoms) showed 100% frequency of occurrence. MBFG II was associated exclusively with the limnophase; MBFG IV and VII were associated with limnophase periods with higher pH and dissolved-oxygen content; and MBFG I, III, V, and VI were associated with limnophase and potamophase, mainly associated with transparency, nutrients, and conductivity. The MBFG approach represented the trends of each group in terms of its occurrence and biovolume, according to the hydrosedimentological regime, providing broad-scale information on changes in the phytoplankton.

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Acknowledgments

We thank to the Long Term Ecological Research Program (Programa de Pesquisa Ecológica de Longa Duração, PELD/CNPq), the Center of Research in Limnology, Ichthyology, and Aquaculture of State University of Maringá (Nupélia/UEM) for logistical and financial support and CAPES and CNPq for post-graduate and post-doctoral scholarships. We would like to thank the Limnology Basic Laboratory/Nupelia for abiotic data.

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  1. Núcleo de Pesquisas em Limnologia, Ictiologia e Aquicultura, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Avenida Colombo, 5790, Bloco H-90, Sala 23, Maringá, PR, 87020-900, Brazil

    Jascieli Carla Bortolini, Susicley Jati & Luzia Cleide Rodrigues

  2. Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia de Ambientes Continentais, Departamento de Biologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Avenida Colombo, 5790, Maringá, PR, 87020-900, Brazil

    Geovani Arnhold Moresco, Aline Caroline Magro de Paula & Luzia Cleide Rodrigues

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  1. Jascieli Carla Bortolini
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  2. Geovani Arnhold Moresco
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  3. Aline Caroline Magro de Paula
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Correspondence to Jascieli Carla Bortolini.

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Handling editor: Luigi Naselli-Flores

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Bortolini, J.C., Moresco, G.A., de Paula, A.C.M. et al. Functional approach based on morphology as a model of phytoplankton variability in a subtropical floodplain lake: a long-term study. Hydrobiologia 767, 151–163 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-015-2490-z

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